Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot? (Whatever THAT Means!)

Happy New Year! Wow ~ 2007 already. They say that the older you get, the faster the time goes. By this time next year, it'll be 2010! So we're back from St. Thomas, the "Jewel of the Caribbean." As always, came back with a laid-back attitude that just doesn't work well for New York! Had a great time, though, especially since our nephew, Chris, joined us for a week He adapted so beautifully to our friends and activities, that I hope he comes again! We went sailing and snorkeling and swimming and exploring (not unlike that OTHER Chris, Mr. Columbus). Of course, I returned with over 1000 photos, thankfully mostly digital these days.

Got back just in time for ice storm! What a fabulous recipe, with only 3 steps:
(1) Take a full helping of 24 hours without power,
(2) pour in a really bored California kid with no internet access or TV,
(3) trap said kid with 2 crazy parents because of a roadful of ice, and.... "VOILA!" Instant insanity! Not too bad, as far as I was concerned, since I grew up in a world of temporary powerlessness every now and again. REALLY difficult for the "connected" generation, however. For me it was an adventure; for her it was something akin to a nightmare.

As if all of this wasn't enough excitement for the week, my wonderful father-in-law, who's 86, is very ill, in the hospital. Each day, I shudder when the telephone rings, because it might just be the hospital, or my sister-in-law, Shirley, calling. Last night was one of those phone calls, because the hospital wasn't really sure Dad would make it through the night. Because he DID, though, the entire situation became an adventure, with 7 of us meeting for coffee/tea/soda/orange juice in the hospital cafeteria at 2:30 in the morning. We all live near one another, but rarely have impromptu "get-togethers." Thanks, Dad, once again, for bringing us all together!
Please get better, soon. PLEASE. We love you more than life.
To your health!